The union representing Ontario's high school teachers says it will hold strike votes among its members in the coming weeks.
Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation president Harvey Bischof says voting will begin Oct. 22 and finish Nov. 15.
Bischof says the decision follows the province's refusal to discuss ``substantive issues'' at the bargaining table.
He says the government is refusing to engage in meaningful discussions about the most important issues including staffing levels in schools.
The OSSTF, government and school boards still have bargaining dates schedule later this month and in November.
The union recently took the rare step of releasing all of its bargaining proposals in a bid to have ``transparent'' negotiations with the government.
Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce responded to NEWSTALK 1010's interview requests, with a statement:
“As families across our province know, strike action disproportionately hurts our kids, especially the most vulnerable in our classrooms. My message to our labour partners is to always put kids first, and continue to work with us in good faith to make sure kids remain in class each and every day.”